Former Orpheum Theater manager gets probation in sex abuse case

GALESBURG — The former manager of the Orpheum Theater will serve four years of probation on one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse as the result of a plea agreement Thursday.

In exchange for his guilty plea, a second count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse against Joshua A. Damewood, 27, of Monmouth, was dismissed. Both charges are Class 2 felonies in which Damewood could have served up to seven years in prison.

According to prosecutors, Damewood engaged in oral sex with a male minor known as “CSS” in October 2012 while employed as the theater’s manager. The victim was 16 years old at the time.

Additionally, Damewood is said to have exchanged a series of text messages with the minor that contained sexually explicit content.

The incident came to light in December 2012 after “CSS” reported the acts to police. Damewood admitted to investigators in subsequent interviews that the acts took place at the theater, although Damewood also told investigators he believed the victim to be older than 18 at the time.

But interviews and statements from other theater employees showed Damewood knew the victim still was a minor, as he was volunteering at the theater during the incident and had filed necessary paperwork to do so containing his true age.

Damewood, who was named theater manager in August 2012, was dismissed from his position in late December that same year.

As part of the plea agreement, Damewood must serve a period of 60 days in the Knox County Jail on a work-release program.

Further conditions of the deal state Damewood must pay approximately $800 in restitution to the Knox County Child Advocacy Center and must not have unsupervised contact with individuals younger than 18.